TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, meds just got tougher after US support
Biden administration wants text-based negotiations on a waiver limited to vaccines but no one is complaining
Aspartame ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’, labels WHO expert panel
Limited evidence on whether the artificial sweetener causes cancer in humans, more studies on carcinogenicity needed
One Health approach: European Union strengthens action to combat antimicrobial resistance
European Council recommends incentives for innovation and access to antimicrobials along with alternatives
World Health Assembly approves draft resolution on health action plan for indigenous people
Global plan should focus on reproductive, maternal and adolescent health, resolution highlights
WHO announces council to speed up TB vaccine development
Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announces plan to save millions of lives at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
World Tuberculosis Day: At 316 per lakh, India’s TB prevalence higher than WHO estimations
Gujarat has the lowest burden of all forms of TB, while Kerala is the lowest in pulmonary TB, according to the National TB Prevalence Survey 2019-2021
Alarming number of infections, deaths due to antimicrobial resistance across Europe: Report
Around 33,000 people died as a direct consequence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria infections
WHO raises the bar on clean air
The WHO seeks significant tightening of clean air benchmarks for near zero tolerance for particulate pollution and to protect public health
Deaths due to COVID-19 much higher than reported: WHO
At least 90% countries reported one or more disruptions to essential health services during the pandemic, the World Health Statistics report …
‘We could eradicate malaria by 2040’ says expert after revolutionary vaccine is approved by WHO
R21/Matrix vaccine was developed by Oxford University together with the Serum Institute of India and can reduce malaria by 75%
Consider updating COVID-19 vaccine composition to include omicron: WHO to authorities
The only other precedent we have for updating vaccines regularly based on the circulating strain is for flu. But the comparison may not be fair
Uganda declares end of Ebola disease outbreak: WHO
Uganda recorded a total of 164 cases & 55 deaths since the outbreak began September 20, 2022
5 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2021, 1.9 million stillborn: UN reports
A death of child or youth every 4.4 seconds; many could have been prevented with equitable access to high-quality healthcare
Pandemic treaty draft negotiations to begin in February 2023
Ensuring equity and solidarity, promoting preparedness while respecting sovereignty will form the crux of this document
WHO’s updated priority pathogen list to be out by early 2023
The current list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola and Marburg
Global pandemic treaty: Soumya Swaminathan promises draft in 18 months
WHO chief scientist says most countries on board for pact to ensure fair sharing of vaccines, data during future pandemics
WHO launches global facility for pathogen storage, sharing and analysis
The sharing of pathogens is currently done bilaterally between countries; WHO BioHub will expedite the process
World No Tobacco Day: Tobacco farming adding to global food crisis, says WHO
Growing sustainable crops can help address acute global food insecurity, governments urged to stop tobacco farming subsidies
Governments discuss over 300 proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations
This is the 2nd meeting where countries worldwide came together to strengthen the mechanism in place to mitigate public health threats
World @ 8 billion: WHO handbook now covers family planning during epidemics, high-risk HIV
Practical measures detailed to support the continuity of family planning services during emergencies
Blame global warming for Pakistan floods; here’s why
Study finds five-day & 60-day maximum rainfall events this season were once in a 100 years events
Declare lumpy skin an epidemic, say Uttar Pradesh cattle owners; seek aid
Experts say mortality rate may have gone up to 10-15%, WHO has to declare the disease an epidemic first
Uncertain outcome, high cost: Why WHO doesn’t recommend convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19
Studies published in late 2020 and early 2021 made a case for plasma therapy in treating COVID-19
Wealthy nations starved the developing world of vaccines. Omicron shows the cost of this greed
10 high-income countries will be sitting on more than 870 million excess doses by end of 2021
Cervical cancer: 90% deaths in low and middle income countries with least access to HPV vaccine, screening
These countries also have low rates of vaccination against HPV